In the modern growth of the evolution of Australian Rules Football, one of the more startling trends that have come out of the AFL is the role of the tagger.
Back in the days of the VFL, one would quell the influence of a star opposition player by drafting or buying top quality players to match them. The trend lapsed in 2001-2004 during the era of the rampant Brisbane Lions, who got Brownlow Medal-winning midfielders in Michael Voss and Jason Akermanis.
The latest true lapses have been in the modern day all-conquering Hawthorn team, who rely on hard nuts like Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis and Bard Sewell in the midfield, and the vaunted Collingwood outfit during the years of 2010 and 2011.
The Pies trusted that their midfield in Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury and Luke Ball would win the clearances and contested possessions. Collingwood are in the middle of the tagging debate at the moment though, with forward-cum-tagger Brent Macaffer’s tagging job on Trent Cotchin last Friday night bringing back the debate.
Ryan Crowley was shunned last year but now his actions are feasible, even though they are symmetrical to his actions of the previous year when he was chastised.
I believe that mostly the lower-placed teams pursue in using a tagger. Collingwood only switched Macaffer to tagger after Gary Ablett ran amok twice against them and the Pies fell out of the top four.
Look at the top teams though: Hawthorn – no tagger. Geelong – no tagger. Essendon – no tagger. Port Adelaide – no tagger.
Only Fremantle use a tagger. Geelong used to during their premiership winning era, but that was the dynamic Cameron Ling, who didn’t tag week in, week out.
The top teams should lead by example and ditch tagging. All teams copy what the best do. If the worst teams need to stop an Ablett, Pendlebury or Steve Johnson, then they should put effort into recruiting the next Ablett, Pendlebury or Johnson.
Tagging is a negative defect of the game, which could jeopardise the competition if the negative attitudes continue. Many people who love football love to see the footage where Ablett roves through a pack and kicks a team-lifting goal, or where Stevie Johnson snaps an impossible ball. The same can be said when Cyril takes a screamer then bends through the goal or when Pendlebury finds time in traffic to kick an amazing goal.
With all of the negative tactics that tagging brings, none of those highlights would be recreated. Suddenly getting twenty touches would be seen as a good game for a midfielder, or two goals would be a haul. The standards would be lower and everyone would be worse off for it.
Taggers have no highlights, just a smug satisfaction of knowing that they have wrecked the game fractionally. I am a Collingwood supporter and I respect Macaffer, but I don’t believe that he should play that role. The role he plays should give him the nickname of ‘Decaf’.
Do the hard yards like Geelong and Hawthorn did and recruit future superstars who will create everlasting memories for anyone who sees them play. Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney did it, and look how they are developing.
To quote Coldplay, ‘Nobody said it was easy,’ but the game will be better off if we do dig deep.
Martin Bishop
Guest
Sean Mortell you have no idea what you are talking about. Essendon doesn't have a tagger hey? Heard of Heath Hocking? Only the equal best tagger in the comp next to Crowley. Learn your stuff before babbling your crap all over the Internet.
Jason
Guest
Thanks guys! Always great conversation on this site.
The Lethal 1
Guest
Nearly all teams have some sort of "tagger" or "run-with" player. ADEL - Nathan Van Berlo, BRIS - Andrew Raines, CARL - Andrew Carrazzo, COLL - Brent Macaffer, ESS - Heath Hocking, FRE - Ryan Crowley, GEEL - Cameron Guthrie, GC - Michael Rischitelli, GWS - Rhys Palmer, HAW - Liam Shiels, MELB - Don't have one, hence why they get obliterated in the midfield every week, NM - Leigh Adams, PA - Kane Cornes, RICH - Daniel Jackson, STK - Clinton Jones, SYD - Kieran Jack/Ryan O'Keefe, WC - Scott Selwood, WB - Mitch Wallis. So every team has a player who can try and negate the opposition's best midfielder. Some completely sacrifice their game and don't look to get a touch at all (i.e. Crowley and Macaffer) and others try and hurt their opponent the other way (i.e. Cornes, Jack, Selwood). I reckon turning an underperforming midfielder into a tagger is a great way of getting a player back into form because the opposition's best player will take that player to the ball, a player I would use for this would be Jack Trengove from Melbourne when he returns next season.
Bradoxxx
Guest
Pretty naive article I reckon. How long does it take to recruit/develop a star mid like Ablett/Pendlebury? What are you going to do when you are 3 down in the 3rd and need to stop an Ablett/Johnston or the like? Some kind of chronowarp that can make all the years of development happen in seconds and then bring that gun player on? Also, having said that Cyril won't be able to kick that amazing goal because he is being tagged is a pile of crap. The fact that he would do it despite the close attention is what makes it such a great goal.
dave
Guest
Rnd 4 Bombers v Freo .Big game for both sides. !st goal Crowley
dockersfan
Guest
Sorry champ, all those players tag week in, week out. My eyes were open, I didn't say you didn't include him, I made the point that every top side has permanent taggers. In fact, you could say I agreed with you with regards to Freo. We sometimes have 1 "hard tag" and another "soft tag". Good lesson, when you watch footy, take notice of the stoppages and watch who consistently lines up with who, you'll find the players I've mentioned all line up with (or at least will try desperately to) against the same player each time. Only exception to this is in the centre bounce, where even Crowley attempts to guard space first, win his own ball second and worry about the bloke he's tagging third.
Scrubbit
Guest
From what I've read about it so far I don't really see anything wrong with tagging. I mean, you don't just let star players run loose and if you have someone who can defend/neutralise their game why wouldn't you?
Trev
Guest
The best taggers are the ones who also find their own ball. Ling did it, Crones does it today for Port and has done for years. When taggers can become attacking themselves they seem to go unnoticed as taggers and more as midfielders, even though their main aim i still to tag. The on;y time tagging gets the spotlight is when Maccffer and Crowley i.e use nothing but negative tactics to stop their man with no interest in winning their own ball,
Jsteel
Roar Pro
Short on facts Ling tagged whenever there was a midfielder good enough to warrant his attention Stratton occasionally tags today for Hawthorn Guthrie tags for Geelong Cornes tags for Port Adelaide
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
It makes sense he wouldn't like a tag then...makes it harder to pawn those DVD players.
IanW
Guest
Look, he said he was a Collingwood supporter. 14 years old is easily enough for a VB or six in that case ;)
Deep Thinker
Guest
Geelong do need taggers and use them. Taylor Hunt and Cam Guthrie come immediately to mind.
calum
Guest
dockersfan, how did it feel getting owned there?
mattyb
Guest
This article as pointed out is short on facts.I remember Platten being tagged and that was a long way before Brisbane plus the Barrassi being tagged story so missing these simple yet important facts is very poor.Also,Cotchin clearly gave up on the weekend and for that there can be no excuse.But not for Cotchin,clearly not satisfied with being a quiter he throws being a sook into the ring as well.
Daws
Guest
Sean well done on writing your article though, its more than most of us have done. Dockersfan take a chill pill, your making the rest of us Dockers fans look bad.
dave
Guest
We heard a lot about sledging in cricket over the summer. If the oppositions best player doesnt like a few words then your gonna give it to them. The champions make the sledger /tagger look bad. When the player cries to the media about onfield stuff thats been happening for years then they look the fool. But as always there is a line that shouldnt be crossed,If its illegal/racist too personal etc everyone knows the line and a few flirt with it. Just whatever ya do dont pinch Boomer Harvey. He doesnt like it.
Sean Mortell
Roar Guru
Dockersfan I think that that comment is a bit rude. First of all I am absolutely not drunk considering I am only 14 years old. Secondly, the reason why I didn't put those players is in because only Crowley and Macaffer tag week in week out. The others can run with players but don't do it every match. I also did include Crowley in my article so maybe you need to be the one who opens their eyes mate.
MFairPlay
Roar Guru
So I'm not the only one thinking Shiels had run with roles. And for the article as above I'm astonished Cornes hasn't been recognised as a tagger. Cassisi has also had 'tagging' roles.
Simoc
Guest
Crowley is a better player than most of his opponents. The media puppets pick up the tagger thing because they are led by the nose (Basils the most hopeless). And Crowley gets more possessions and scores more goals than his opponent frequently. He plays along with the image to help the star struck opponent who pretty much all are wanne be Abletts or Ablett. Crowleys smarter & stronger. It's easy to beat a tag for a good team. Just look at the Hawks early season form.
Dockersfan
Guest
Are you drunk? Taggers: Hawthorn: Langford (this year, Shiels last year) Geelong: Guthrie (also a little know bloke called Cameron Ling. Heard of him?) Port: Cornes Essendon: Hocking Fremantle: Crowley. Next time you watch one of those teams play do it with your eyes open.